Chapter 5 – House of Nocturne

As Cain and Ally made their way through the city towards the towering structure that housed the Chaosfall Guild, the atmosphere around them shifted. The roads that were filled with mortals are now brimming with warriors. The more that you get into the heart of the city where the guild hall is, the more shops meant for warriors are stationed.

The guild’s massive doors appeared- intricate designs and symbols are shown. The doors looked ancient, showing at least centuries of history.

As they entered the lobby, practitioners busily choosing quests given by the administration were seen. Multiple squads are forming parties to handle harder quests. Cain could not help but feel a sense of belonging, while Ally, on the other hand, was wide-eyed, taking in the grandeur of the guild hall.

Multiple practitioners looked at the general direction of Cain with a slight intrigue, some women stared at him in awe, and some tried to make themselves more alluring.

As Cain reached the reception, a young woman was working and greeted Cain with a smile. “Welcome to your return, lord Cain,” She said with a smile and a slight bow.

Cain nodded back. “Thanks, Lara, let me guess-”

“The guild master requires your presence,” Lara cut him off with a playful smile.

Cain chuckled. He then pulled something from his storage ring. A harmony bracelet, crafted from enchanted silver, serves as a small magical gift. Some people say it grants patience to the wearer.

“Here,” he handed the bracelet to Lara.

“I was joking you know?” Lara said with a slight surprise

Lara joked about how Cain should get her a souvenir since he was going away for a long time.

He then very slowly, pulled away his arm while slowly saying “Okaaaay.”

She then snatched it right off his hands.

“I didn’t say I don’t want it,” she said as she looked at the gift with appreciation.

Ally chuckled inwardly, finding the interaction amusing.

“Alright, we have to go. Take care.”

Lara slightly bowed again and returned to her receptionist duty.

Cain led Ally through the guild hall, passing by training rooms filled with clashing sounds of magic and weapons. The guild members acknowledged Cain with nods and respectful greetings as they passed, recognizing their only Spellblade.

Ally, watching all this interaction, felt a mix of nervousness and excitement. She was wondering how she would fit into the guild.

Finally, they reached the guild’s central chamber, where a large circular table made out of marble dominated the room. The room was spacious, most designs were adorned with a dark shade of red, not failing to show that this place was expensive.

There are a total of twenty-two chairs around the table. Twelve for the Adept Minor rank, six for the Adept Major, three for the Magus rank, and one for the Guild Master which is an Archmagus.

At the table sat some of the highest-ranking members of the guild, including the Guild Master. His eyes sharp as his sword, A wise elderly knight fitted with short silver hair can be seen. Elderly is not even the right word to describe Luther, he is well above one hundred years old but he does not look above thirty.

In this world, as practitioners become more powerful, the longer their lifespan is. This is the reason why people try not to judge other people by their looks since they do not know if a youngster is actually a mana genius.

The Guild Master known as Luther Chaosfall is one of the marquees of the Astera kingdom, granted by the king of Astera. He was a commoner but displayed immense strength as a body practitioner using swords. He was then granted the responsibility of overseeing Avalon with his formed guild.

The discussions of the members were halted as Cain and Ally approached the table. Luther looked up with a glint in his eyes.

“Cain, welcome back,” Luther greeted in a deep tone. “And who is this young one with you?”

Cain introduced Ally to the assembled members. “This is Ally Cruze, a talented Lightning body practitioner that I encountered on my assignment. She has great potential, and she would be a valuable addition to our guild.”

Luther studied Ally for a moment before replying. “Very well, if our Spellblade vouches for you, you are welcome among us.”

Ally was now part of a world she had only heard of in tales and rumours. The legendary figures seated around the table became more than just names. They were real individuals with their own stories and accomplishments, and she was looking at them!

“Hold on, why is she not taking the test? I believe that we should follow our rules.” James Sommer, an Adept Major spearman voiced out his opinion with disdain.

Cain, unfazed by the interruption, turned to James Sommer with a calm expression. "James, rules are essential, but so is recognizing exceptional talent. I have full confidence in Ally's abilities, and she can contribute significantly to the Guild."

Usually, any person that the round table vouches for will not be tested practically because the guild is unified and they trust each member. The test is a series of challenges for people wanting to be part of the guild. All that James is doing, is just pure spite and pettiness.

A murmur of agreement swept through the room, but James remained skeptical. Luther, the Guild Master, raised his hand to signal for silence.

"Cain has earned our trust with his judgment in the past. Let us give Ally a chance to prove herself. If she does not meet our standards, the guild will handle it accordingly."

James seized the opportunity to challenge Cain.

"Cain, your penchant for disregarding protocol and making impulsive decisions has always been a concern. Your return only adds more chaos to our already delicate situation. Why should we trust your judgment?"

‘Oh boy, why is this mutt yapping so much.’ Cain thought still holding a professional outlook.

Cain met James's gaze calmly.

"James, I understand that we may not see eye to eye, but my actions have always been in the best interest of the guild. I prioritize results over rigid adherence to rules, and history shows that my methods yield success."

James scoffed. "Success at what cost? Your recklessness jeopardizes the safety of everyone in this guild. We can't afford to have a loose cannon like you leading us."

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Luther, the Guild Master, intervened with a stern expression. "Enough, both of you. We are a guild, and unity is crucial. Save your disgrace for a more appropriate time. Disrupting the harmony of Chaosfall Guild will not be tolerated."

Turning his attention to Ally, Luther spoke.

"Ally Cruze, your potential has been acknowledged, but we have a tradition in our guild. New members must prove their capabilities through a test. It's a rite of passage, a demonstration of your skills and adaptability."

Ally, although initially surprised, composed herself and responded confidently, "I am ready for the test, Guild Master."

Luther nodded approvingly.

"Good. Your test will be a practical assessment of your magical prowess and combat abilities. You will face a series of challenges designed to gauge your strengths and weaknesses. Succeed, and you will be officially welcomed into Chaosfall Guild."

The guild members, regardless of their opinions on recent events shifted their focus to Ally, curiosity replacing the previous tension. Since they were here, ‘might as well watch the test.’ Some thought.

As Ally made her way to the training grounds with Cain by her side, Luther whispered to him, "This is not just a test for her. it's also a chance for you to prove that you have good judgment."

Ally took a deep breath, steadying herself as the first challenge unfolded.

The test brought forth combat dummies enchanted with defensive spells. Ally unleashed a barrage of lightning strikes with her great sword, each hitting its mark with precision. The guild members watched in awe as she seamlessly combined offensive and defensive maneuvers, showcasing a level of skill and control that contrasted with her youthful look.

“That great sword is almost her height. That is monstrous strength. Is she using mana to strengthen her body?”

Jaxon Goldberg, one of the twelve adept knights asked in surprise at Ally’s strength and control.

Jaxon is a middle-aged hulky man. His body is buff and robust, his armour can’t even hide the fact that his muscles are practically bulging out. At his back, a huge sword and shield can be seen as a testament to his profession as a tanker – A person dedicated to diverting all the enemy's attention to give his squad a chance to attack or defend. A necessity in all squads.

The challenges continued to escalate, with each one testing different aspects of Ally's abilities. She faced elemental trials, tactical puzzles, and even illusions that sought to distract her. Throughout it all, Ally maintained her composure, adapting to the challenges and determination.

Cain, standing at the sidelines, couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. He knew that Ally had the potential to impress but witnessing her navigate the challenges without official training reaffirmed his belief in her abilities.

The final challenge brought forth a formidable opponent – an Apprentice rank chaos beast, the same rank as Ally to test her combat skills at their peak. The beast moved with unexpected speed and agility, its attacks used a combination of brute force and planned attacks. Ally faced the challenge head-on.

“Thunder Pulse.”

She said in a light tone, enveloping her body in small arcs of lightning and mana became erratic in her body. The slight blue highlights on her hair glowed warmly. Her eyes glowed in a blue hue, while her body surged with newfound strength.

She did not block the attack like she did when fighting the Chaos wolf, she instead dodged the oncoming attack. She attacked the beast in its fleshy weak spots whenever she could.

As the battle reached its climax, Ally unleashed a powerful surge of quick strikes, enveloping the beast with a barrage of attacks.

The beast fell and Ally dispelled her ability.

The training grounds fell silent for a moment before erupting into applause. Luther, with a subtle nod, signalled the end of the test.

"Ally Cruze," Luther announced, his voice carrying through the training grounds, "you have demonstrated exceptional skill and resilience. By the unanimous agreement of the guild members present, you are now officially welcomed into Chaosfall Guild."

A wave of relief and satisfaction washed over Ally. She glanced at Cain who offered a proud smile in return. The guild members, having witnessed her prowess, accepted her into their ranks with respect.

Without uttering a word, James turned on his heel and made his way towards the exit.

Some members congratulated her and went on their ways, some just left, not a care in the world.

“That was thunder pulse huh, you are the second person I have seen to use that besides Cain.” Jaxon walked towards Ally.

“Apologies, my name is Jaxon Goldberg.” He then reaches out with his hand, offering a handshake. “A pleasure to meet you.”

Ally then shook his hand, and with a smile, “Ally, apprentice of lord Cain. A pleasure to meet you as well.”

“That makes sense, we do not have a lot of lightning element practitioners here. He will take care of you.”

Jaxon and Ally exchanged pleasantries as they continued their conversation.

Luther went beside Cain and spoke, “Come to my office later, you must have a lot to talk about.”

Cain replied with a slight nod.

Jaxon quickly made his way towards Cain with Ally with a grin.

“Cain!” he called out.

Jaxon wasted no time sharing his thoughts. “She is a damn good lighting swordsman. The way she handled those tests based on her age is impressive.”

A pleased smile played on Cain’s lips. “Yeah, you better be careful or else she’ll overtake your position!” he chuckled.

Although the difference in age, in this world, as long as you have power, respect will be given even by people who are older.

Jaxon laughed heartily at Cain’s comment.

“Well, she certainly got the spark no doubt about that. Wouldn’t mind a little competition. Keeps us on our toes.”

Cain shook his head with the joke while Ally displayed a wry smile.

As they exchanged small talk, Cain bid Jaxon farewell and changed his focus onto Ally.

“Well, let me show you where you will be staying while you are here.”

Together, they navigated the guild’s corridors and hallways.

“Is sir Jaxon close to you, my lord?” Ally asked.

“Yeah, we are from the same batch of trainees.” He said with a light smile.

“Don’t underestimate him. Even I would have trouble getting through his defences if I fought him head-on.”

He continued. “Do not underestimate anyone is a better tip. Everyone who reached the Adept Minor rank would be called a veteran in the practitioner world. They might look young, but in reality, they are older than they look.”

They talked while they walked outside of the guild. After a five-minute walk, they found themselves standing in front of a small mansion that was built with the guild’s aesthetic and architecture in mind.

Ally’s eyes widened with surprise and delight.

“Is this… your place, my lord?” she asked with admiration in her voice.

Cain nodded with a smile. “Yes. As an Adept Minor rank, we have the privilege of having our quarters. Starting today, you will be sharing this space with me.”

Ally's initial surprise turned into genuine happiness. "Thank you, my lord! This is incredible. I never expected to have the chance to live in a mansion!”

Cain chuckled at her reaction. "Consider it a perk of being my apprentice. We need to have a comfortable space to train.”

As they moved towards the big doors of the mansion, it swung open to reveal a well-dressed butler named Oswald, who greeted them with a courteous bow. His silver hair and clean attire reflected years of dedicated service to the house of Nocturne.

"Welcome back, Master Cain," Oswald said with a hint of formality. "And greetings to the newest addition. It's a pleasure to have you both."

Cain nodded appreciatively, "Thank you, Oswald. Ally, this is Oswald. He has been with the Nocturne family for quite some time and takes care of various matters around the house."

“Oswald, this is Ally, my first apprentice.”

Ally smiled warmly at the butler. "Nice to meet you, Sir Oswald."

Oswald returned the smile, his demeanour exuding a sense of professionalism.

"The pleasure is mine, Miss Ally. Please, no need for formalities, do call me Oswald, and If there's anything you need during your stay, please don't hesitate to ask."

As they entered the mansion, a graceful and kind-looking maid with blonde hair named Elena appeared. Her eyes lit up as she saw Cain.

With a slight blush, she bowed elegantly. “Welcome back, Master Cain.” Elena greeted me with a warm smile, curtseying respectfully.

"Thank you, Elena. This is Ally, my apprentice. Ally, meet Elena. She oversees the household affairs here and ensures everything runs smoothly."

Elena's demeanour was gentle and welcoming. "The pleasure is mine, Miss Ally," she replied, her voice soft and soothing. "Please, make yourselves comfortable. I've prepared some refreshments for you both."

“Thanks, but not now. I’ll show her around the house for now.”

“As you wish, master.”

As Cain guided Ally through the mansion, he explained the various rooms and features, each tailored to meet the needs of a seasoned practitioner. The study room was filled with ancient scrolls, magical artifacts, and history books while the garden outside boasted a serene atmosphere conducive to meditation and reflection.

Maids and workers bow to Cain and Ally when they see them go around the mansion.

The maids of the Nocturne family are not plentiful but each of them contains enough power to reprimand those who are making trouble to the house of Nocturne.

Ally couldn't help but feel a sense of privilege and excitement as she explored her new living quarters. Ally couldn't shake the feeling that this small mansion held the key to not only her magical growth but also to the bonds and adventures that awaited her within the guild.

After some time passed, Cain finished the tour.

“Alright, I will train you when I have the time, but for now, be good okay? I’ll let you know when we can train as soon as I can.” Cain said as he pinched Ally’s cheek.

Ally, remembering that he had to talk to the Guild Master, understood. “Mkay, I'll try not to make trouble~” she jokingly said.

Cain left the mansion and went straight to Luther’s office.